The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-27
THE DAVIS-NELSON TRAGEDY
A Startling Incident of the War Retold
by a Friend of Gen. jeff. c. Davis.
The Situation at Louisville at the Time of the
Killing-General Nelson's Domineering
Manner and Language to Davis.

tragedy we find that at that time General Bragg
had succeeded in getting the flank of GEN
eral Buell. and the memorable race between the
two armies marching on parallel lines. had be-
gun. The objective point of Bragg was sup
posed to be Louisville, and the question as to
which army should first reach it was dependent
in great measure on the relative endurance OF
the hostile columns. Louisville almost en-
tirely unprotected by drilled troops. In the
city was a powerful and numerous element
thoroughly infected with the doctrine underlying
the rebellion, and constant communication
with the army under the stars and bars. At the
same time Kentucky was overrun by partisan
sodery, and all the forces in the State were
needed to guard the several lines of railway
which formed Buell's lines of communication
with the North to hold the several stations
in the possession of which Bragg's march into
Kentucky found them.
At this time General Nelson was in command
at Louisville and Gen. jeff c. Davis
leave OF absence on account of ill-health. super
induced by exposure and exhaustion in the pre-
vious campaign. In this emergency General
Nelson declared the city under martial law, or
dered the enrolment of every able bodied man
in the city, and assigned experienced army of
icers to the command of these raw conscripts.
Pontoons were thrown across the Ohio river,
and the women had been advised or ordered to
leave the city. Thousands of old men. women
and children had crossed the river, and its
banks on the Indiana side, were lined with beds,
bedding and the valuabes Of many an alarmed
home. The hostile arm les were straining every
nerve, each to reach a point before the other.
which would command the city and at the
time the approach of the other toward it. Gen.
Nelson hastily encircled the city with ditch
and earthworks. running his line Immediately
through Cave Hill Cemetery. The secession
element in the city, encouraged by intelligence
from General Bragg. were eated with the pros
pect of the speedy entry of their friends, and
were defiant in their words and actions, refus-
ing to work in the trenches or when compelled
to enter them, laboring rather to retard than
expedite the completion of the cty's defenses.
At this juncture General Buell. by telegraph
ordered General Davis to report to General
Nelson for duty at Louisville Daviss old di-
vision part of the column under General
Buell. and with it making forced marches
for the falls of the Ohio. On the arrival of
General Davis at Louisville he reported to Gen
eral Nelson, and by Nelson Davis was assigned
TO the command of all the citizen sodery.
Davis found his new troops entirely without
arms. Hitherto their duties had been performed
with spade anc shovel in the trenches. The lat
ter com pleted. Davis attempted to get his men
somewhat in hand by drilling them. The next
thing 10 be done was to arm them But it was
impossible for the General in command to know
any given time the exact number of men
actually under his orders. 1t must also be re-
membered that the last campaign had been very
the army in the West. The men mad
not yet become Injured to the hardships of a sol
dier's life and, comparatively fresh from their
farms, were not the veterans in endurance which
they afterwards became. The result of this
that vast number of men were unfit for
duty and the wards of the hospitals in the North
were full to overfowlng, while an army OF in
validS were convaeScing on sick leave at home.
AS rapidly as these men were discharged from
hospitals, in case, the expiration of
their several furloughs in the other, they came
through the city of Louisville their way to
their several regiments at the front Louisville
was the entering point for the returning soldiers
belonging to BuelIs army from all the States.
In consequence, the number OF men arriving at
Louisville was very considerable and these COM
ing from hospitals and from home were without
arms. AS they reached Louisville they
detained there and mustered to swell the hastily
organized force for the defense of the city. con-
tinualy changing the footing-up of the gener-
al muster roll of General Davis's command
General Nelson's headquarters were at the
Gait House, Col. Silas Miller at that time pro-
pretor. The rooms occupied by Nelson were in
the northwest corner of the hotel, the first
floor. These rooms were approached by wide
hall running the entire length of the building
from the main Office back and to the left OF the
main entrance to the hotel The main hall was
intersected at its southern extremity by a small
one constituting the ladies' entrance to the ho.
tel and opening on the west side of the house
Second street This hall opened into the main
Office on the east. the reading-room on the south
and Second street on the west.
1t is not necessary to recount the several in
tervews between Generals Nelson and Davis
which were had from the time OF General
Davis's arrival in Louisville TO the death of Nell
son. Only the interview which led directly to
the fatal shot is necessary to an understanding
in the On Thursday, the 18th day of Sep
TENDER, 1862. General Davis called at General
Nelson's headquarters to confer with him upon
the general subject OF the citizen soldiery. The
previous interviews of the two generals had
been marked by the abrupt and dictatorial man
ner which unhappily distinguished General Nell
son on the one hand, and the chagrin of the
proud spirit of the fierv Indianian the other
Davis seemed to have forgotten any incivilities
OF his superior officer, and entered Nelson's
Office smiling and greeted his commander warm
". In the course OF the conversation about
arms for his men, Nelson asked Davis bow
many guns he wanted. Davis began to reply,
and had gone so far as to say. "about twenty
five hun" when the imperious and violent tenn
per of General Nelson manifested itself, and
springine to his feet and glazing upon General
Davis exclaimed
'Aboutl your abouts Don't you
know how many men you have in your COM
maud, sirF
Davis replied that it was impossible for him to
tell the exact mum Der of his men, that he only
wanted to know where to get arms, and he
would tell him the exact number when ne made
the requsiton.
The rage of the general officer warmed by
Davis's explanation defense of himself. here
broke over all control, and he ferccly answered:
You are - of a general. and tell me
about how many men you have. You not
fit to command men. Get out of my sight, -
you! l will relieve You and send you to
Cincinnati. Get out of nv sight. or, - you,
will arrest you and send you to Cincinnati
under guard, you puppy"
Davis, stune to the quick, but accustomed TO
that control of himself which bis military edu-
cation had taught him, retired from the presence
of his commander, and my remem brance is that
he went to Cincinnati and reported to General
Wright.
The following Monday morning, being the Goth
of September. General Davis, in company with
Oliver P. Morton, at that time Governor of In
diana, encountered General Nelson the main
hall of the old hotel, Immediately in front of the
Office counter, when General Davis said:
Good morning, General Nelson. | have
called if cannot settle the matter
which is between us
Davis had not finished what he had to say,
but as he was beginning another sentence Nell
son broke in him angrily and contemptu-
ousv
what you doing mere! Get out of my
way, you contemplate puppy" at the same time
striking Davis in the face with the back of his
md turning farcal1- Nortnr sad.